Diary of George Gerrard in Stanley Internment Camp Hong Kong: View pages

Today I handed in to the C.S.O. another 75 word postcard to you. There is so little that one is allowed to say that you'll wonder at the dearth of news in it when you receive it. However the day will come and we all hope soon, when free communication can be made.

The news is really good and the Russians are advancing westwards rapidly. There is nothing of any import to record this week. Life just goes on as usual and always have plenty to do and I'm glad to say that I keep very fit and well. We received 25Yen today.

Today I received two parcels from town, one from Lo Fung I and his son Young Lo containing 4lb sweet potatoes, some dried onions and a small packet of curry powder and one from the Mie Lee Ironworks containing 1 tin corned mutton, 2 tins yellow beans and 1 tin T.S.R. treacle, all of which is jolly welcome to our mess. We intend having a stew tomorrow with the mutton, potatoes and onions and curry.

D.B.B. and I still go to J.Fs' on Saturday nights and have our chin wag together. The weather is very good and now much cooler.

Two of the men put in prison have now been released, Dr Talbot and Streatfield of the Bank, but they wont talk, having been threatened not to divulge anything.

There is not much news available tho' repatriation has reared its head again and there are great hopes when the Teia Meru does her next exchange voyage which should be about early December.

The latest information is mysterious being that the next exchange will be entirely different from that which was expected. Now what that means I Dinnae ken, tho' it is being interpreted in many ways, one being that the women that didn't go in 1940 wont get this time either and accordingly more men will get away. Well we'll see in due course.

Time is tearing on and our stay here seems to be going to be long and not very much hope of getting any improvement in the chow rations which are very poor and with the colder weather coming in most are having to tighten their belts except of course those with plenty of money who are able to buy locally at the canteen.

I'm hoping that more letters will come this way soon. I am keeping very fit and well and having plenty to do has a lot to do with my fitness. I weigh round about 11stone.

Yesterday I received a parcel from the Mei Lee Ironworks containing 1 tin corned beef, 1 tin fish and 1 packet of sugar which was very acceptable. There isn't a great deal of news except disturbing rumours that some of the internee prisoners have been bumped off.

Russian news appears to be good. The 'Teia Meru' is not calling this way on the way back to Japan but for the next repatriation we are likely to receive some Red Cross food which is badly needed.

Tonight I received two glorious and loving letters of 29th Nov and 13th Dec 1942 and its grand to know that you were fit and well and getting on all right. Letters a year old are the usual thing but I am fortunate in comparison with some internees who have either never received a letter or like G. Rodger who has only received one from his wife and that was dated over 18 months ago. Actually your 5th January letter I received on the 26th August, 2 1/2 months ago.

We received terrible news on Tuesday 2nd November when a bulletin was issued by Mr Gimson Camp Commandant that he had been officially informed by the Jap Authorities that the following internees who were arrested some time ago had been executed: Messers Fraser, Scott, Hall, Bradley, Rees, Waterton and Hyde and that prison sentences were given to W.J.Anderson (Andy), J.L.Anderson and F.Roberts 15 years each and Edmonston 10 years.

It was a terrific shock to everyone and the whole camp was depressed, we are not allowed to hold memorial services for these poor chaps. They were shot on the 29th October Friday not far from here.

Tonight I received a parcel from Lo Fung I and Young Lo containing 4lb sweet potatoes, dried onion and some curry powder. Very nice and thoughtful of them. It is fine that some are still faithful to us.

Repatriation is now in full swing again and is expected to take place next month. The categories are children without parents, women with children, old and infirm and certain women, that is war widows. There will be a lot of sad hearts amongst the women but we have no sympathy for shirkers or dodgers call them what you like. However more of this anon.

Tonight I received your loving and glorious letter of 6th December 1942 and it is grand and fine to know that you were keeping cheery and well. It was very pleasing and cheerful to me to know that Phil Hermon had written you about me and the others. Your letter was so newsy and for it I thank you. I wish we were able to write as much as you are allowed to. We haven't been able to write you since 30/9/43 but when the next repatriates go, we are hopeful of being allowed to write again.

Last night Monday we had our first night air raid and oh boy it was great to see in the moonlight our lads doing their stuff and sailing over Hong Kong with complete nonchalance and disregard for ack ack. Then today they came over again and showed the nips a thing or two, but again there was no opposition to them and this rather belittles their tales of how they chase our chaps out of the sky. Our lads dropped heavy calibre bombs and were off quite quickly. The help to the Chinese morale must be wonderful.

Because of this we are now having blackouts from 6.30pm on Monday 22nd November.

Tonight I received your letter of 13th September 1942 written in Montreal and post marked Sydney, Nova Scotia which was when you were on your way home. It was most interesting dearest to hear your news. Thanks for all your love and thoughts.

700 repatriates are expected to leave sometime next month, war widows, women with children, men with children, old people over 70 and the very sick. Well I can't be included in any of these categories.

Bad news today George Rodger died this morning between 5 and 6am: He had been in hospital for 10 days but we never worried as his condition was not serious. What happened was that one day about 2 weeks ago he woke up and found his face swollen and puffed up. Then the tummy started to swell as well as his legs especially thighs.

He consulted the doctor who diagnosed his trouble as due to kidneys, actually he developed acute nephritis and cardiac beri beri. and must have had a very hard fight on Saturday night and early this morning. Convulsions developed as well. It was a terrific shock to us all when H. Smith first brought us the news ((probably Hugh Smith, a Taikoo employee like G Gerard)). It all seemed to be so impossible. The funeral took place at 6pm tonight, I with 5 other members of the Football Club were the pall bearers.

This afternoon I received three loving and glorious letters from you dated 27th December '42, 12th January '43 from Glasgow and 31st January '43 from Inverness and I am so glad that you are liking the Northern town so much.

I wonder what kind of a job you have there however it is fine to know that you are well and keeping cheerful, your letters are very encouraging and so helpful along this dreary road, which is becoming wearisome. Nevertheless we keep cheery and tho' the food is poor and small we live in the hope that very soon happier days will come our way soon.

Thanks a lot for all your news dear and I hope that long before you have received some from me and heard about me from the repatriated Canadians (Bill Buchannan through' Mrs Finnie).

Went into Tweed Bay Hospital on Tuesday to have my left big toe nail removed but Prof Digby decided against removal and has tied it up with thread, came out of hospital today also suffering from herpes (shingles) in left side, don't sleep well but hope soon to be O.K.

Last night when D.B.B. and I were at J.F.'s he gave me Yen to pay out to the staff at the rate of 15Yen each. I knew of course about this a little time ago but we kept it a secret from the staff that is as best we could but C.C.R. had to talk and spoil things. However everyone was very grateful and I was joyfully received and a welcome visitor.

Actually this is the commencement of a much brighter Christmas than we had expected as things were looking very black for us all with no prospects of money or allowance.

Christmas has come and gone and much better than expected. The news from the outside world is good and we are winning slowly but surely. A long spell of blackouts have been cancelled. On Thursday we received 15Yen allowance and today a further 5Yen also a present from the Japs. of soya beans 1 catty per head, 1 3/4oz of margarine and 2 tins of pork --- beans amongst 7 persons.

We had a big pie made for our Xmas dinner with sausages, sweet potatoes, onions and turnip and boy oh boy it was good. We had a rare tightener. Today I was invited to the Wiley’s room for tiffin and another grand feed. It was fine. ((Probably the Willey family, as their father Frederick Willey worked at Taikoo Docks like George Gerrard did.))

The start of another year and still here, but we are more hopeful of release than we have ever been. We are moving rapidly on all fronts and this we gather from the meagre news that is in the daily rag and reading between the lines sort of thing. At any rate we feel more confident that our day of freedom is not so far distant now.

The chow put on by the kitchen was quite good considering the small and poor rations we get, however to supplement we made another pie of corn mutton and vegetables and has helped to fill the empty places.

I received three small parcels from Lo Fung I, Lam Chang Wei and Mei Lee Ironworks and these were very acceptable and helped to replenish our impoverished stocks. There is still no further news of repatriation, but continue to hope.

Today I saw Prof. Digby re my in growing toe-nail and tho. he has been attending to it for a while and endeavouring to care by Heath Robinson arrangement of thread, he has now decided to operate and I'm to enter Tweed Bay Hospital tomorrow evening and get it cut on Monday morning. The trouble with my toe has been due to shoes which are of course a serious problem in this camp. My own ones are completely worn out and I've had to wear rubbers and another pair of shoes, the good are not my own and sharp-toed and consequently my left big toe has suffered.

Our 23rd Anniversary and I fell very confident that this will be the last one that will be separated. At any rate we live in great hope as the news at the moment is said to be great.

I am writing my 25 word postcard for you today. I look forward with great keenness and longingly to our happy day of reunion which of course can't come too soon for us. I hope you keep well.

Well I entered the hospital on Sunday evening and on Monday forenoon proceeded to the operating room where I was given a general by Dr Bennett, Prof Digby and Dr Kirk were there. Well I passed out under the anaesthetic and came to later in the day back in my bed. I felt all right and I wasn't sick but later in the evening I was given a morphine injection and in the early hours of the morning I became violently sick and felt like as if the end had come. Everything went black, I became hot and cold all over but a dose of something and I felt better and slept until morning. I managed to get rid of most of the chloroform when I was sick. However I'm feeling all right and have a big iron cage over my legs.

There are nine of us in the surgical ward and very cheery tho' unfortunately there is a blackout which makes the dark evenings so long. My toe-nail has only partially been removed, only a strip having been taken away but the bed has been removed which is the main thing. Three stitches were inserted and these I expect will be cut on or about Saturday and I should therefore be out the following Saturday. I feel all right tho' the bed I'm in is very lumpy. I'll get a change when one of the others go out.

I have had the stitches out last Saturday and a further examination on Monday and I'm to be allowed up to the lavatory which is a great blessing as bedpans are an anathema to me and yesterday after a dose of salts I feel better. We are also thankful that the blackout was lifted on Monday night for it was dreich lying in bed with no lights.

There is to be a change in administration of the Camp and --- of being a Civilian Camp it is now known as the Military Internment Camp with the Heads of the Jap Foreign Affairs, Hettoni ((probably Hattori)) and Mayina ((probably Meijima)) in charge also a Jap doctor Mayasaki ((probably Myasaka)) in charge of the hospital here.

Boy oh boy the news is great and both Germany and Japan are not very happy in their positions. Maybe the day is not so far distant when at least Germany will have packed up and when that happens the fur will fly in the Jap direction. Not ‘arf.

Today shortly after one o'clock I left the Tweed Bay Hospital. N.M. and H.S. came down and carried most of my stuff as of course one has to take blankets and pillows and mintoy as well as personal things including tea, bread and any other eatables. In other words the hospital provides a bed only.

I feel all right with little or no pain in my toe. I go to see Digby again on Tuesday. I'm glad to get back to my room in the block as the chow in hospital was very poor.

I am now quite well again, but since leaving the hospital last Sunday I have had a very rough time with diarrhoea and haemorrhoids (piles). I think I must have got the looseness there and I just had to keep my bed and unfortunately with the lavatory so far away (45 yards) it was a trial indeed to get there in time sometimes.

Then with the diarrhoea one of my in herniated piles became very active and at times the blood was actually pouring out. As this went on for several days and nights I became very worried and had to call in the doctor, Dr Boswell ((probably Dr Barwell)). All he could do for me was epsom salts which I must say helped however by Thursday morning I became a little better and took the chance or risk of walking to Tweed Bay Hospital where I saw Prof Digby. He had previously examined me for piles and suggested that I should be operated in about a months time. He couldn't of course do anything for me this time in view of my diarrhoea, so will leave things for a wee while.

I am not very anxious to have an operation for my haemorrhoids but should they get worse it may be necessary. However I had my first firm stool today and was quite proud of the fact and as I feel more like myself and hungry I can consider myself as being O.K. again.

The Japs have stopped our flour ration (4oz) so our bread supply has gone west. They have given us an extra ration (4oz) of rice but that doesn't compensate for the loss of the flour and consequently the bread.

We are having a parade tomorrow for identification and administration of the camp which is now no longer civil being under the jurisdiction of the Military with the name of the camp changed to the Military Internment Camp Hong Kong. Whether all this change will lead towards improved conditions as regards reducing the overcrowded quarters and bettering the food is all very problematical. We'll have to wait and see.

Things go on as usual in this place and with the weather being so cold one is always hungry, so that will be beneficial in that respect when the warmer weather arrives.

There is nothing much to report as regards our rations, tho' the vegetables we are receiving have improved slightly in quality and quantity, but we are receiving fish every day and so one missed beef. To give us the necessary fats and of course the loss of the flour for bread is a serious business for us.

However it gives us the assurance that all is going well with our cause when the Japs cannot replenish stocks. Our blockade of the coast is therefore hot stuff. The Jap Governor has told the people of Hong Kong that if there is no rice they must eat sweet potatoes and if no potatoes then they must eat beans. What was it that Marie Antoinette said 'What do the people want' 'Bread' ' Well give them bread' 'There is not any bread' 'Well give them cake'? I'm glad to say that I am keeping all right and back to normal again, my weight being 150lbs but I feel we (men) will get lighter still on this diet.

We had an air raid on Friday afternoon and the Japs say that we lost 4 planes, but the true story is that they lost 1 plane and that we did a lot of damage to the troop movements in Kings Park.

Tomorrow we are to receive a ??? from the canteen profits of 1/4lb of brown sugar which will be very welcome. The block elections take place next week and I hope to stand again.

The block elections were postponed and took place last Wednesday when I was second in the poll, the order being Cooper, G.G. (168 votes), Price, DeVille, Kean and Hill so we have two new men on the committee and also a new Chairman D.O. Russell who beat Bennet in the Chairman's poll on the previous Saturday 112 to 100, after the result was declared we had a meeting and I was again appointed Block Quartermaster and a member of the kitchen sub-committee.

On Friday we each received 25 Yen but there is not to be any canteen until Wednesday so we have to wait in patience till then to get soya bean flour which we appreciate so much and goes so well with our rice and in our tea. Then later we received 4oz of peanut butter and on Saturday 1oz of sugar and for this we are very grateful. We realise the simple life now and any extras in the way of sugar, peanut butter and the like seem to give us a great kick and keeps us considerably on our weary and tiresome way.

I wrote my February postcard of 25 words to you last week, but there is very little that we are allowed to say but I hope you receive them all right tho' with the blockade of Hong Kong I hae my doots.

The camp is now under Military control and last week (Thursday) we all had to go to headquarters and sign an affidavit that we wouldn't attempt to escape. At this late juncture it would of course be silly to make any attempt and in any case it is nearly impossible to make the proper contact with the Chinese for such a venture. Then the camp is patrolled by Formosan guards and the penalty if caught trying to escape is death.

However the news of the Americans doing so well in the Marshall and Caroline Islands means that they are getting close to Hong Kong and the day of our release may not be so very far distant.

I am keeping well and fit, 154lbs in weight and getting on all right but tired of this aimless and useless life, I want to be doing something really useful outside and that of course is the reason why I work hard in here and keep myself as busy as possible all the time. 

The weather is still very cold and with the cold of course everyone is hungry and aye ready for food such as we get. We still get fish every day but I'm glad to say that the quality of vegetables has greatly improved.